MAPS 4 ideas go ahead without city’s direction

OKLAHOMA CITY – The grass-roots momentum for the next tax-funded package of citywide improvement projects under the MAPS banner has surprised city officials, but they’re not complaining.

Early ideas for the next Metropolitan Area Projects have coalesced around a theme that seems to be a reaction against MAPS 3, which included $777 million to build a 70-acre city park, a larger convention center, riverside improvements and several other projects. Participants are calling the new movement MAPS 4 Neighborhoods, organizer Jonathon Dodson said, because it places less emphasis on the central part of the city and more on community connectivity, health and culture.

“Our goal is to have half of funds in our next MAPS go specifically towards neighborhoods across the city,” the group’s Facebook profile states. “We’re looking for new ideas, great ideas. This is just a start to get us talking about what we want to see. Join in the conversation.”

Dodson said projects being discussed at community meetings include more sidewalks, beautification, bike lanes, an expanded bus system, school menus and public spaces. And most of the energy is coming from neighborhood associations, he said.